2017 Vol.23 No.2 PP 273-282
ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION, SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND IMAGE INTERPRETATION OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN URBAN CITY ROAD SIDES, MYSORE (KARNATKA) INDIA
S. SREENIVASA* AND G.V. VENKATARAMANA
Department of Studies in Environmental Science,
University of Mysore, Manasagangotri,
MYSORE-570006, INDIA
*Corresponding Author :
Email : sreenivasaseenu123@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out using vacuum air pump sampler to collect particulate matter in the urban city roadsides. Elemental composition,
size distribution and image interpretation of particles was analyzed using the methods of Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Dynamic Light
Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), respectively. Irwin road, the highly dense traffic area in Mysore city, has been
selected for study purpose due to its high vehicular emissions. EDX analysis found that roadside particulate matter was dominated by black
carbon (C) about 56% affected mostly by tail end pipe emissions. The samples were also rich in crustal elements like silicon (Si), iron (Fe),
calcium (Ca), aluminium (Al), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) either in single elements or as chemical compounds. The results from DLS and SEM
image interpretation showed that almost 90% of ambient particulate matter collected in the sampling site was in the size of fine particles
(PM2.5) and around 74% of them have degree of roundness or circularity above 0.75.
Key words : Air pollution, DLS, EDX, Particulate matter, SEM, Urban roadways, Vehicular emission.